Will progressive lenses help my blurry vision?

Dr. Michelle Calder-Cardwell is the owner and lead optometrist at Urban Optiques Vision & Eyewear in Northville, MI.

Q. Since I hit my mid-forties I've noticed my eyes becoming blurry. What causes this "middle-age" vision loss, and what can I do about it?

A. Presbyopia is a condition most people develop between the ages of 40 and 50. It causes eyestrain, difficulty focusing on small objects or print, and trouble seeing in dim light. For those who already wear corrective lenses, it can be especially frustrating when they start to need more than one prescription for their various activities. Progressive lenses are often the perfect solution.

Progressive lenses may help you see things more clearly at all distances. They make it easier to shift your focus from tasks like working on a computer to looking at something from a distance, and there's no having to switch between two pairs of glasses for distance or reading. Progressives provide the more youthful look of single vision glasses by eliminating the visible lines found in bi-focal and tri-focal lenses. They may take some getting used to, but most patients say progressives are more comfortable and provide a clearer vision experience than bifocals or trifocals.

The first thing you should do is visit your VSP doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. Your doctor will check your eyes for vision problems and other health conditions. If you do have presbyopia, your doctor will help you decide which lens is best for you.

VSP offers more competitively-priced, cutting-edge progressive lenses than any other vision carrier in the industry. With the help of your VSP doctor, you're sure to find the right lens to help you see clearly again.